Block-signal system for electric railways.



No. 810,705. PATENTEDJAN. 23, 1906.

A. L. BO WER; BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10, 1903.

'40 'ing. 1

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABRAM "L. Bo ER,'oF BOYERTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA. BLOCK-SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 1906.

' the signals are operated by relays, which in .turn are energized when a car passes over an insulated rail'or rails forming a part of the.

two main rails of the road-bed. It differs from other'systems which show or throw sig- 7 1 5 nals at two or morepoints to indicate that a certain block or section of track is occupied by a train or car in that the change of signals is produced automatically withoutinecessitating the operators leaving the car.

Means are also provided for operating it manually when so desired. Furthermore, means areprovided on the car for altering the operation of the signals at any time. A further object is to employ signal-cir- 2 5 cuits which are supplied with current only when the corresponding section of thetrack is unoccupied, thus lighting the signal-lamps only when the safety-signal is desired.

The drawing forming a part of this speci o ficatiori'illustrates apparatus embodyingthe principles of my invention. In the drawing, A designatesthe trolleyconductor of an electric railway.

B is the -main'supp1y-ieeder, which has 5 branches 1) 12 leading to the signaling apparatus located at. the turnouts. a

. .Drepresents the rails of the main track, and E represents the rails of the siding. Both rails of the track are not shown in the draw- C 0 represents pairs of insulated rails in. the turnouts or adjacent to them. These insulated rails in each turnout are longer than any car and are connected together by Wire 1. Those in the turnout are located opposite-each-other, and'likewise those in the main rails'are located opposite each other.

L L are the trapk-relays connected to the '{main rails by wire 3- and :to the insulated 5o rails in themanner to be described later. Wire 4 connects the rails in front oi the insulated rails. with therails behind them, thus preservin' the continuity'of the earth-conductor. elay Loperates an "armature-le ver N when that 'relay'is momentarily energized by a passing car. A pivoted? arm 0 is provided below with a projection resting upon' a small wheel 0 supporting the arm upon the notched or indented periphery of a break-wheel e. This device is adapted to shift the switch-arm alternately into engagement with contact 34 above and with con tact 33 below. The break-wheel e is joined to the ratchet-wheel f, upon the upper surface of which the pawl n rests. A s ring S tends to pull and hold the armatureeverN away from relay L. Stops H and H limit themovement of lever N. Twoother relays M and M are used in connection with relay L. Two switch-arms O and O are connected to ether by a bar of insulating material P. T ese switch-arms serve as pole-changers and are adapted to be drawn alternately toward relays M and M Three contacts 8 7, and 9 are placed in the path of the switch-arms. Contacts 8 and. 9 are connected to the ,main feeder B by" branches 1) b. Contact 7, which is the middle contact common to both switch-arms, is connected to the rail D by wire 13. Arm 0 connects with the advance signal circuit through wire 15, and arm 0 with the rear signal-circuit through wire 17. Arm 0 is adapted to touch contact 8 when drawn toward relay M and is also adapted to touch contact 7 when drawn toward relay M. Likewise arm 0 is adapted to touch contact 7 when drawn toward relay M and is also adapted to touch contact 9 when drawn toward relay M. Arm 03 is connected to arm 0 in the turnout in the rear by Wire 17, light to at that end of the intervening section, line wire 16, light to at the otherend of the section, and wire 15. c I

The insulated rails are connected by wire 4lto switch-arm 0 This switch-arm completes the circuit through relay L in two ways, according to its position. Wire 35 leads from contactpoint 34 to relay M, and wire 40 leads from relay M to wire 37, which is connected to the second electrode of relay L. Wire 36 leads from contact-point 33 to relay M, and wire 39 connects'that' relay with Wire 37. The circuit is. divided between wires 37 and switch-arm O When arm 0 occu ies its-lower position, the circuit through t e relays is as follows; fi'om insulated rails .0 through wire 41, arm

- through wire 41 arm O contactspoint 34,

wire 35, relay M, wire 10, wire 37, relay L, and wire 3 to rails D. When the switch-arm O is in its upper position, relays L and M are in the circuit from the insulated rails C to rails D and when in its lower position relays L and M are in that circuit. Switch-arms O and O are provided with handles 42 and.

38 to permit their operation manually.

A wheel of a car is connected by Wire 26 to a resistance24 on the car. Wire 27 connects the other end of the resistance to contactoint 22 in relation to contact-point 20,

whic connects with the trolley-wire A through wire-12, trolley-pole 19, and trolleywheel 18. A bar of metal 21 is adapted to be moved by a lever 23, so as to connect pIoints 20 and 22 or disconnect them at will.

0 extra apparatus need be used on the car if the motors be used as resistance and the controller as the switch 23, and to operate the signals it will'be necessary onl to have part or all of the ower turned on w 'le crossing the insulate rails. To prevent the opl eration of the signals, the power may be turned off while crossing the insulated rails. The operation of the device is as follows: When the line is clear, the switch-arms are all turned, so that a line-wireisconnected to the main feeder-B at one end by means of either contact 8 'or 9 and branch I) and at the other end to ,therails. by contact 7 and wire13. The current flows through the various linewires, lighting the lights w and win each section. In the drawing the car is shownas havin passed over the track from right to left. Before the car had approached the turnout on the right the arms were horizontal The ratchet-Wheels and breakwheels were in the osition shown on the left, but with the paw in notch 30 and with the switcharms 0 and G in the left-hand position. Lights wand w of the section shown in the drawing were lighted. The circuit was as followsz'fromfeeder-B through branch I), (on the-right',) contactoint 8, arm O,-wire 15, light w, wire 16, lig t w, wire 17,arm O ,con- "tact-point'7 and wire 1-3 to the rails. When the car passed onto=theinsulated rails, the

current from the feed-wire flowed through the'following circuitzfrom wire A, through wheel'18, pole 19,wire 12, contact 20, plate 21, contact 22, wire 27, resistance 24, wire 26, brush 11, the wheels 25, insulated rail C, wires 1 and 41, arm 0 contact-point34,wire 35,'relay M, wire 40, wire 37, relay L, wire 3, tothe rails D-D. The current energizes relays L and M. Relay Mdraws the switcharm to the right-hand osition, and relayL draws armature-lever forward, permitting pawl 01 to slide from notch 30 to notch 31.

With switch-arm O of the left-hand side of the drawing in the left-hand osition and switch-arm O of the right-hen side'of the drawing in the right-hand position the circuit through lights w and w of the intervening section is as follows: from the earth-0on ductor D on the right, through wire 13, contact-point 7, arm 0 wire 15, light w, wire 16, light w, wire 17, arm 0 contact-point 7, and wire 13 to the earth connection. No current flows through the lights and a car at the left-hand -turnout does not receive a safety-signal from light w there. When the carleaves the insulated rails at the righthand side of the drawing, relay L is deener gized and spring S pulls the armature-arm back and turns the ratchet-wheel one point and wheel 0 drops into a notch on the periphery of wheel (3 and connects arm 0 with contact-point 33. The same results take place when the car reaches the next turnout on the left-hand side of the drawing, pulling the switch-arms tothe right, as is shown. Then the'circuit through the rear line-wire is as follows: from the main feederB to branch I), contact-point 9, arm 0 wire 17 light w, wire 16, light w, wire 15, arm 0 contact-point 7, wire 13 to the earth-conductor, again lighting the lights intervening and allowing another car to enter the section. When the car leaves the insulated rail, the armature-lever N is drawn back by the spring S and pawl n turns the break-Wheel one point and shifts arm 0 to connect'with contact-point 33. When another car rea'ches the insulated rails on the right, the current flows through the relays as follows: from the feed-wire A, through the car, through rail 0, wire 1, wire 41, arm 0 contact-point 33, wire 36, relay M, wire 39, wire 37 relay L, and wire 3 to the other rail. The switch-arms O and O are drawn to the left and the safety-signal is no longer displayed at the end of the intervening section. The circuit-is asfollows: from branch I) of the main feeder B, through contact-point 8, arm 0 wire 15, lightw, wire 16, light w, wire 17, arm 0 contact+point 9, to branch I) of the main feeder B. No current flows; The results are the same with cars going in either direction. No two carsshould be permitted to occupy the signalin'g position in a turnout at the same time. Thus cars succeeding each other turn the switch-arms alternately to the right and left positions and on leaving the insulated rail alternately set the track in strument to connect relays M and M alternately in the circuit, producing the results described. r J

Certain parts of the apparatus may be duplicated, andsWitch-arms O and 0 may be operated independently of each other. i

Where a single insulated rail is used instead of a pair of insulated rails in the main track and in the turnouts, wheel 25 of the car must be insulated from the other wheels of the car, and an extra resistance mustbe the car.

turned to connect contacts'2O and 2-2 onlyused, and the controlling-switch 23 must be distinct and separate from the controllerof Then the switch 23 should be when in the vicinity of the insulated rails.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the followin 1. In a block-signal system or electric railways, thecombination with the track di' vided into blocks or sections, of insulated rail-sections between adjacent blocks, a feedwire extending along the railway, a circuitch'anging switchat the end of each block,

main signal-wires extending from one of said switches to the other, said switches arranged .to connect the main signal-wires terminating .therein alternately'to'the feed-wire and to the common return of the power circuit,

magnets to operate said switch, and elec 1 trical means cooperating with a car to ener- .at the" end of gizesaid-magnets alternately as successive cars arrive upon the insulated track-section.

block,- substantially as des'cribed.

2. In :a block-signal system for electric railways, the combination withthe track divided into. blocks or sections, of."insulated rail-sections between adjacent blocks, a feed-- -.wire extending along the railway, a circuit changing switch at the-end of each block, main signal-wires extending from one of said switches to the other, said switches arranged to connect the main signal wires terminating therein alternately to the feed wire and to the common return of the powercircuit, magnets to operate said switch,-a circuit dijvided into two branches, one of said magnets connected in each of said branches, amagnet connected in circuit common- -to both branches, means .operated by said third mag-v net to energize said 'switch operating magnets. alternately as successive cars. arrive.

upon the'insulated tracksection adjacent to c onnec t'the main sign al-wires terminating thereinalternately fto ;,'the feed+wirej and to the common return-of. the power-circuiai" magnets to operate said; switch,--a circuit di-.-

vided into two branches, one of. saidrn'agnets -.connectetd to circuit common-to both ,of'said:

branches and incircuit with-theinsulated rails, a movable contact device, means cooperatingwith the'last-named magnet to \bring 'said con-tactdevice into electrical, connection with said branches alternately, electrical connectlo'n between said contact device and the adj acent insulated track-section, a trolleywire and means tp-complete the'circuit from the said trolley-wire .to the said insulated track-section when a car arrives thereon, substantiallyas describeds 4. In a block-signal system, the combination' with asection of track, oftraffic-0on trolling devicesin connection with a line'- wire terminating-1n a switch, wlnch cooperates alternately with a branch of the feed-;

Wire, and the return-conductor; two magnets in relation to the switch; a divided. circuit, one of said magnets being included in each branch of the circuit; a switch-arm arranged to'beincluded alternately in the branches of said divided circuit, a ratchetwheel;'a pawl for said ratchet-wheel actuated by an armature, 'a' third' magnet included in both branch circuits for operating'the armature, a break- ,wheel provided with a notched periphery,

said break-wheel arranged for operation by said ratchet-wheel, the second switch-arm resting upon the notched or indentedperiphery of the break-wheel, operative. devices for energizing and deenergizing the circuit,- toether with the rails forming the return-conuctors, and an insulated rai'l-section-connected-to the switch controlling'the branch circuits, substantially asidescribed. J 5. In a'b'lock-signalsystem, a series of divided circuits terminatin in the rails, each.

blocks, insulated rails between the blocks, a

circuit having an insulate rail'for one ter- "minal, 'a'magnet included in and controlled by bothbranch circuits, said magnet oper atinga commutating device controlling eachcircuit, the commutating device serving to' connect the branch circuits alternately with thej'main circuit, an additional magnet in eachbranch of the divided circuit, switcharms in relation to these magnetsflline-wires terminating in. a switch at each end, said .switch being adapted .to cooperate alternately with branches of a current-supply wire and. the return-conductor, together with traliic control ling devicesadjacent to the turnouts, and devices for energizingand deasidescribed'.

energizing'fthe divided circuits, substantially 6.. In a block -sig'nal system for electric wires terminating'inswitches at the turn.-

railways, the combination with a series of blocks, signal lamps connected with lineturnout,lan-.earth-conductor having a branch atreach turnout, the switches cooperating" t t with the branchesof the feed wire'and the connected in eacliof said-branches; a magnet return-circuit alternately, a main. local ciran armature, pawl, ratchet-wheel, and acornmutating device serving to connect the branch "circuits alternately: with the niain local circuit, 8.,magnet in each branch circuit when the car arrives at a given section of aldld in gperative reliiltion tlo the SVliltCfheS ang track, substantially as described. a a te to move t em aternate T orwar and backward, a trolley condl ctor, and ABRAM Q 5 means coperating with a car to complete a Witnesses:

circuit from said trolley-conductor through IRWIN T. EHsH, one of said local branch circuits at a time, J. H. FUNK. 

